A diesel-powered racing car has once again claimed the crown in the legendary 24-hour challenge at Le Mans with the second consecutive victory for the Audi R10 TDI. As in 2006, when two Audi R10 TDIs finished first and third, Bosch was the development partner for the injection technology, supplying specially adapted common rail injection systems for the Audi racing cars.

A diesel-powered 908 HDi FAP by Peugeot Sport, crossed the line in second place when the endurance race ended at 3pm on June 17, 2007. Bosch was again a development partner and supplied the injection system to the team. This technology was developed within a very short time in collaboration with Peugeot Sport.

Dr. Ulrich Dohle, president of the Diesel Systems division at Bosch, commented enthusiastically on the race, "Both teams displayed top-class racing prowess and exploited the advantages of diesel to the full – high performance coupled with low consumption. Racing technology and series-produced systems exist in symbiosis.

“Our involvement in motor racing helps us to further improve on the weight and performance of our series-production injection systems. In turn, our many years of experience in series development are the bedrock for reliable racing technology," added Dohle.

The number of European motorists making the move to diesel is growing all the time. Ten years ago, in 1997, only 22 per cent of all newly registered cars in Europe were fitted with a diesel engine. By 2006, every second new vehicle registered ran on diesel. Bosch has played a leading role in the development of today's high-pressure injection systems, and was the first supplier to mass-produce them.

The company can look back on a long motor-racing heritage: Bosch technology first helped racing drivers to victory as far back as 1903. Bosch has now pooled all its motor-racing activities in one separate unit, namely Bosch Motorsport. This unit is part of Bosch Engineering GmbH, the Bosch subsidiary that specialises in engineering services.

Bosch media enquiries:

Chris Wakley / David Eden

Automotive PR

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7494 8050

Email: cwakley@automotivepr.com / deden@automotivepr.com

Bosch OE enquiries:

Jenny Hodge

Communications Manager

Robert Bosch Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 1895 838545

Email: jenny.hodge@uk.bosch.com

About Bosch

The Bosch Group is the world’s largest provider of automotive technology to all leading vehicle and component manufacturers. 

In 2006, the company generated automotive sales of €27.2 billion and employs approximately 161,000 people in this sector.  The key business areas include: fuel injection technology (diesel & petrol); systems for active and passive vehicle safety (brakes, ABS, traction control, ESP, control units for restraint systems); electrical motors, rotating electrics and products for car multimedia.

Additional information can be accessed at http://www.bosch.com/ and http://www.bosch.co.uk/